Find free commercial auditions by building your network and submitting to agencies.
Commercial auditions occur every day in cities throughout the United States. Of the people who audition for those paid commercial roles, most of them haven't paid a dime to be considered. Ensuring that you find out about most of the auditions you are suited for requires a great deal of legwork, but once you have set up your audition searching system, you may end up on several free commercial auditions each month.
Instructions
1. Gather all of your acting materials like headshots and your resume. If you do not yet have a headshot, set up a shoot with a reputable photographer in your area. If you do not yet have any acting credits, take on some unpaid acting work that you find on sites like Craigslist or from local newspapers to build up your resume. Without a headshot or resume, it may be difficult for you to find free commercial auditions.
2. Network with actors and directors in your area to find local audition resources. This can often be accomplished by seeing your friends in their theater shows and going out with the casts afterward or by taking local acting classes. Another method to grow your network is to volunteer to work a technical or box office position for a company in need. The larger your network is, the more likely you are to find out about local resources and auditions. You never know when a director you meet will be interested in casting or referring you later.
3. Sign up for free accounts at casting websites like Backstage, All Casting Calls or any other resources mentioned to you during your networking attempts. These sites will often require you to post your resume and headshot. Check the sites once a day to see if any free commercial auditions have been posted. Submit yourself for any and all auditions you can attend. Even if you aren't cast in a commercial, casting directors may refer you to other projects they are working on if you have a strong audition.
4. Find a casting agency in your area that has been reviewed strongly by your peers. Never work with an agency that requires a sign-up fee. A reputable agency will take a percentage of the money you earn for a job, but they will not take money upfront before they get you a job. To sign up for an agency you will have to submit a headshot, a resume and you will have to audition for them. Sometimes, you will need to send your headshot and resume through the mail. Whenever possible, use references from your network of actor and director friends to find and work your way into casting agencies. The more agencies you are a part of, the better chance you have of finding free commercial auditions.
5. Continue to network, search your free accounts and submit to free online resources even if you have been signed with an agency. There is no telling where the next audition could come from.
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